Communion in the Hand?

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

Hi again

So, now I’m curious: does it matter how one approaches?

I have never seen any official instruction on this, so I believe the general norm is to follow the community.
GIRM

Movements and Posture

1. The gestures and posture of the priest, the deacon, and the ministers, as well as those of the people, ought to contribute to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity, so that the true and full meaning of the different parts of the celebration is evident and that the participation of all is fostered.52 Therefore, attention should be paid to what is determined by this General Instruction and the traditional practice of the Roman Rite and to what serves the common spiritual good of the People of God, rather than private inclination or arbitrary choice.

A common posture, to be observed by all participants, is a sign of the unity of the members of the Christian community gathered for the Sacred Liturgy: it both expresses and fosters the intention and spiritual attitude of the participants.

Lux

 

[Orionthehunter]

No, I didn’t miss your earlier post.

How it was done there doesn’t answer my question.

Please respond to the question.

I thought I did. Maybe I don’t understand the question. I think your question was (correct me if I’m wrong) is if there is any particular rubric or norm of the Church with regard to the manner which people process to recieve communion.

My answer is that I know of none. Thus, it is according to local custom. In the US, it is that people go up row by row, front to back. I’ve observed in Italy, people just get up as they want.

 

[Apryl]

I thought I did. Maybe I don’t understand the question. I think your question was (correct me if I’m wrong) is if there is any particular rubric or norm of the Church with regard to the manner which people process to recieve communion.

My answer is that I know of none. Thus, it is according to local custom. In the US, it is that people go up row by row, front to back. I’ve observed in Italy, people just get up as they want.

Now this is an answer!

See… how it is done in one place, to me, doesn’t answer if it’s right or wrong. It’s apparent (based upon posts on this thread) that people all over the world do things that may, in fact, not be right. And those that to those things may do it repeatedly!

Now… because you may not know of a rubric or norm doesn’t mean (to me) that it defaults to local custom.It does mean that you don’t know of a rubric or a norm related to this. Get me?

I’m only asking because this method seems so painfully odd.

I want so badly to stand up and say ‘Sit back down and wait! There is enough for us all!’… but that wouldn’t be cool, would it?

 

[Orionthehunter]

Now this is an answer!

See… how it is done in one place, to me, doesn’t answer if it’s right or wrong. It’s apparent (based upon posts on this thread) that people all over the world do things that may, in fact, not be right. And those that to those things may do it repeatedly!

Now… because you may not know of a rubric or norm doesn’t mean (to me) that it defaults to local custom.It does mean that you don’t know of a rubric or a norm related to this. Get me?

I’m only asking because this method seems so painfully odd.

I want so badly to stand up and say ‘Sit back down and wait! There is enough for us all!’… but that wouldn’t be cool, would it?

While I know of none and can find none (hard to prove a negative), I do have strong anecdotal evidence that it either defers to local custom or possibly that here in the US we do it wrong. When in Rome, I attended Mass @ the St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major Basicilicas. St. John Lateran is the Basilica of the Pope as the parochial Bishop of Rome. In both places there was no order in how people processed to Communion. I suspect if what they were doing was prohibited, they would know better.

On a side note, the first time we witnessed it (our group for World Youth Day) we were all confused and taken back by the manner they processed. By the second or third time, the kids were doing it the Italian way. I never quite got the hang of it. But, I think we all had the same reaction you have “sit down, there is enough for all”.

 

[Cran]

Concerning WYD, I do sometimes wonder how everybody managed to receive, but evidently, everyone who wanted to, did

During the “big pope show”, I was at mass in the dome of cologne (due to my duties asvolunteer, I couldn’t attend marienfeld), and they had still the pews removed. It was a amazing mass, the congregation partly standing all the time, partly sitting on the bare floor, and of course, kneeling there, too, and proceeding with no order at all to communion. It was the best service I ever had.

 

[Apryl]

It was the best service I ever had.

Please forgive me in advance, but I’m OCD, Anal-Retentive, and can really be nit-picky

<>
We do NOT have ‘service’. We have MASS!

<>

 

[Philothea53]

Concerning WYD, I do sometimes wonder how everybody managed to receive, but evidently, everyone who wanted to, did

During the “big pope show”, I was at mass in the dome of cologne (due to my duties asvolunteer, I couldn’t attend marienfeld), and they had still the pews removed. It was a amazing mass, the congregation partly standing all the time, partly sitting on the bare floor, and of course, kneeling there, too, and proceeding with no order at all to communion. It was the best service I ever had.

Pardon me, but the 'big pope show?" That sure sounds extermely rude and disrespectful.

 

[Orionthehunter]

Pardon me, but the 'big pope show?" That sure sounds extermely rude and disrespectful.

I can see how you might interpret it that way. However, I was there and understood the context and took no offense. The “Show” was probably four or five hours long beginning with his entrance to the grounds, some liturgical and cultural dance and singing (outside the Mass of course), some inspirational pre-Mass speeches, Mass (where yes all one million plus of us rec’d Communion which was probably a logistic nightmare but done w/ care and reverence), and his exit from the grounds.

I can still hear the nearby Italians yelling “Benedito” non-stop except for the Mass. They had a profound emotional expression of their love of this German Shepherd. It was inspirational.

 

[paramedicgirl]

I can see how you might interpret it that way. However, I was there and understood the context and took no offense. The “Show” was probably four or five hours long beginning with his entrance to the grounds, some liturgical and cultural dance and singing (outside the Mass of course), some inspirational pre-Mass speeches, Mass (where yes all one million plus of us rec’d Communion which was probably a logistic nightmare but done w/ care and reverence), and his exit from the grounds.

I can still hear the nearby Italians yelling “Benedito” non-stop except for the Mass. They had a profound emotional expression of their love of this German Shepherd. It was inspirational.

Wow! There must have been much rejoicing in heaven at the sight of one million plus souls assembled together all in a state of grace receiving Holy Communion.

 

[Cran]

Well, do forgive my protestant origins and my lack of English as a native tongue

 

[Orionthehunter]

Wow! There must have been much rejoicing in heaven at the sight of one million plus souls assembled together all in a state of grace receiving Holy Communion.

I am pretty comfortable that they were in a state of grace at a higher percentage than the average parish anywhere. We were there two weeks (some groups only a week) and everyone went to Confession during the trip. It really was amazing to be among so many holy young people. Every train, every bus, every street seemed to be packed w/ young soldiers for Christ. When people heard the route of “Benedito”, the kids clamored to be on the street just to get a glimpse of him. When he rode on a boat down the Rhein (upon arrival in Germany), for miles you had people yelling his name and rejoicing to be so close to the Holy Father. Kids cried when he drove by giving them a blessing. Testimony to the holiness of these kids. During the entire week, eight people were arrested associated with WYD. All eight were not really sincere participants as their primary association was a group advocating world-wide population control via ABC and abortion. According to the article and “hearsay”, they couldn’t handle the peaceful way these kids just ignored them and thru their literature in the trash (they always took it just to make sure they wasted the groups resources). I guess the people got more boisterous and obnoxious such the German police removed them as a public nuisance.

 

[Philothea53]

I can see how you might interpret it that way. However, I was there and understood the context and took no offense. The “Show” was probably four or five hours long beginning with his entrance to the grounds, some liturgical and cultural dance and singing (outside the Mass of course), some inspirational pre-Mass speeches, Mass (where yes all one million plus of us rec’d Communion which was probably a logistic nightmare but done w/ care and reverence), and his exit from the grounds.

I can still hear the nearby Italians yelling “Benedito” non-stop except for the Mass. They had a profound emotional expression of their love of this German Shepherd. It was inspirational.

I’m sorry. That was probably my jealousy talking

 

[Lux_et_Tenebrae]

hi again,

I am pretty comfortable that they were in a state of grace at a higher percentage than the average parish anywhere.

May I ask why this is even discussed? Why would anyone even hazard a guess at the condition of the soul of another? It just seems very wrong to me.

Lux